The Rifting of Pangaea and the Gettysburg Battlefield
The Rifting of Pangaea and the Gettysburg Battlefield
Objectives
In this lesson, students connect heat transformations within the Earth to rifting and formation of igneous rock units. Students will:
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analyze and interpret an animated model of Earth’s rifting processes.
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connect Earth’s rifting processes with the Earth’s surface in the Gettysburg battlefield.
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extend geologic histories from Lesson 1 back in time to include the formation of the rift basin and igneous sill in the Gettysburg area.
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apply the heat engine model of the Earth to the continental rifting that occurred in the Gettysburg area millions of years ago.
Essential Questions
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What causes the great variation at Earth’s surface?
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How do energy transformations explain that energy is neither created nor destroyed?
Vocabulary
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Heat engine: Transforms heat into mechanical motion.
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Lithosphere: The strong, rigid outermost shell of Earth composed of the crust and the upper portion of the mantle.
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Mantle: The layer of rocky material between Earth’s crust and core.
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Rift basin: A large, low area in the Earth’s surface that forms when land masses are torn apart.
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Extrude: When magma flows out on the Earth’s surface.
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Igneous: Refers to rocks that solidified from magma and lava.
Duration
90 minutes/1–2 class periods
Prerequisite Skills
Materials
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computer with Internet access, projector, and screen
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group illustrated geologic histories from Lesson 1
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“Earth on a Slow Boil” article (S-8-4-2_Earth on a Slow Boil Article.doc)
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butcher paper per group and markers
Related Unit and Lesson Plans
Related Materials & Resources
The possible inclusion of commercial websites below is not an implied endorsement of their products, which are not free, and are not required for this lesson plan.
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Continental rift volcanism:
http://esminfo.prenhall.com/science/geoanimations/animations/35_VolcanicAct.html
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The Restless Earth: A Geologic Primer:
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/geo_history_wa/The%20Restless%20Earth%20v.2.0.htm
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Animation of Convection in the Mantle:
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“Earth on a Slow Boil” article:
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/geo_history_wa/The%20Restless%20Earth%20v.2.0.htm